Garment with back supporting panel



Nov. 3, 1959 1. YEA-KEY ETAL 2,910,984

GARMENT WITH BACK SUPPORTING PANEL Filed Feb. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I llll w l a g L IEI l l l l l l l J INVENTORS fbeeesr/f FEM Er ALMA I. SHELDON l l I I l l I I I l I I I 1.

I I I ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 F. I. YEAKEY ETAL 2,910,934

7 GARMENT WITH BACK SUPPORTING. PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1956 INVENTORS Foeessrl YAKY ALMA SHELDON um Wm ATTORNEY United States Patent GARMENT WITH BACK SUPPORTING PANEL Forrest I. Yeakey and Alma I. Sheldon, Jackson, Mich, assignors to S. H. Camp & Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 9, 1956, Serial No. 564,404 I Claims. Cl. 128-529 Compression garments of the above-mentioned type P are usually free of adjustable traction structure such as straps, lacings and the like, and elastic inserts or sections are usually employed to develop compression upon the body and to provide the necessary degree of yield toibody movement.

Many persons require light support for low back syndrome. This is especially true in the case of persons from the ages of 55 to 70 in which osteoporosis of the spine occurs. This breakdown of the spine, due to decalcification and demineralization, requires support in the lumbar region. It is also advisable, at the same time, to give support to the lower abdominal region, thereby relieving the tension of the pulpy tissue at the base of the spine, and by relieving this tension, aid in supporting the spine.

Notwithstanding the need for light support of the spine, many persons, rather than wear conventional and less stylish anatomical supporting garments, will neglect this condition and continue to wear girdles, foundation garments and similar compressive garments which, at the most, only constrict the thighs and buttocks and tend to flatten the abdomen.

It is an object of the invention-to provide a garment which will be readily acceptable from the standpoint of style and appearance yet provide light support in the lumbar region.

Another object is to provide a back panel capable of chordal attachment upon the. inside of a compression type garment for giving support to the lumbar region.

A further object is to provide a back panel for a compressive body bandage for use in the treatment of low back syndrome in which tensioning of the panel to the lumbar region is accomplished without the use of adjustment straps, lacing or similar traction structure.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, the conventional type of compression garment functions as a body embracing bandage which supports and activates the anatomical supporting panel attached to the inside of the compression garment in bridging relation to a back portion thereof.

Preferably, the anatomical supporting panel is disposed in bridging or chordal-like relation to a lesser or nonelastic portion of the compression garment with which it is to be associated. Due to its specific form and construction, the chordal supporting panel will provide localized support to the lumbar region even though the compressive garment with which it is associated is incapable of any such function.

In the illustrated form of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view taken from the front of a conventional type girdle garment with the anatomical supporting panel shown in chordal relation to the nonelastic rear portion of the garment,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the garment shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 taken from the rear of the garment, v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the chordal anatomical supporting panel as seen in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a'top view of Fig. 4 with arcuate stays insert in adjacent and parallel relation to the spine.

Referring to the drawing, the garment 10 is a compression type of body bandage conventionally worn to restrict the thighs and buttocks and flatten and support the abdomen. In the illustrated form, thelongitudinal front panel 12 may be of one way elastic material, being elastic in the direction indicated by the arrows a. Panels 14 and 16 are also of one way elastic material, with the I of the arrows d and e. A sliding fastener 24 is provided in the side panel 18 to assist in the application of the garment 10 to the body.

Pockets 26 are provided along the longitudinal edges of the panel 22 to receive fiexible stiffening stays of conventional and well known construction. Along the edges of the pockets 26 the longitudinal edges of the chordal supporting panel 28 are attached by sewing, or other suitable means.

Panel 28 preferably takes the form of a rectangular member having end portions 30 of one way elastic fabric with the elasticity running in the direction of the arrows f and a central relatively non-elastic woven portion 32 having the warps and wefts running in the direction of the arrows g and h. Portion 32 is preferably barrel shape in elevation, being sewed to the portions 30 around the curved edges 34. Pockets 36 are provided for stays in a well known manner.

In practice, the pockets 36 are parallel to each other and arranged to be parallel to the spine and disposed upon opposite sides of the spine, the spacing of the pockets 36 for an adult being in the order of 2 /2". The vertical dimension of the panel 28 willbe in the order of 8" and so located in the garment 10 as to be disposed over the lumbar region. Various types of stays may be inserted into the pockets 36 depending upon the degree of support required. Where maximum support is desired, the stays disposed in the pockets 36 may be preformed on an arc, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be appreciated that the stays in the pockets 26 assist in providing a firm anchor for opposite ends of the panel 28. When the garment 10 is applied to the body the panel 28 will be deflected out of its chordal relation with the overlying rear panel 22 and both the panel 22 and the panel 28 will conform to the body. Panel 22 being relatively non-elastic, will limit the amount of extension of the panel 28 and also function to smooth out and conceal the panel 28.

The shape of the elastic end portion 30 of the panel 28 is an important feature of the present invention. While other arrangements of elastic material for obtaining the desired results will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, We prefer to use a flat section of one way elastic fabric of maximum width along the upper and lower edges 38 and 40 and of minimum width inwardly of the edges. This arrangement results in maximum tensioning of the panel 28 taking place between the second and fourth lumbar.

In most cases, the effects of the panel 28 upon the spine will be improved if the front panel 12 is disposed to give lower abdominal support. The Y garment 10 is shown with reinforcements in the areas 42 and 44 to stiffen the panel 12 a moderate amount to improve abdominal support.

We claim:

1. In combination with a body embracing bandage having upper and lower edges, a rectangular chordal anatomical supporting panel located on the inside of said bandage to be disposed transversely of that portion of said bandage which overlies the spine in the lumbar region, the upper and lower edges of said panel being horizontally disposed and being between the upper and lower edges of said bandage, the vertically disposed edges of said panel being attached to the inside of said bandage along lines parallel to and spaced on opposite sides of that part of said portion of said bandage which overlies the spine, the extended unstressed length of said panel between said attachment lines being less than the extended unstressed length of that portion of said bandage between said attachment lines whereby said panel between said attachment lines is disposed in chordal-like relation with the overlying portion of said bandage to give localized support to the wearers back Within the area of the body embraced by said bandage.

2. In the combination of claim 1, said bandage having alternately arranged longitudinal panels of relatively elastic and non-elastic material with the elastic panels I being located at the sides of said bandage and the nonelastic panel being located at the back, said chordal panel being in opposed relation to said non-elastic panel.

3. In the combination of claim 2, said chordal panel having elastic end portions of varying width longitudinally of said bandage, and a central non-elastic portion disposed between said elastic end portions of varying width longitudinally of said bandage.

4. In the combination of claim 2, said chordal panel haying elastic end portions, and a non-elastic central portion. I

5. In the combination of claim 2 said chordal panel having elastic end portions of varying width longitudinally of said bandage, a central non-elastic portion disposed between said elastic end portions of varying width longitudinally of said bandage, vertical flexible stays associated with said bandage and chordal panel and located at said attachment lines, and additional flexible stays associated with said central portion of said chordal panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,690 Duffy June 18, 1918 2,135,655 Bertrams Nov. 8, 1938 2,219,475 Flaherty Oct. 29, 1940 2,453,370 Hittenberger Nov. 9, 1948 2,506,826 Ford May 9, 1950 2,730,096 Pea'se Jan. 10, 1956 2,733,712 Wuesthofi Feb. 7, 1956 

